Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. (v.27)

Teamwork is essential in business and industry. To underscore this point, Co-op Magazine included this item: “You’ve heard of the corny Tate family. They pervade every organisation. There is Dick Tate, who wants to run everything. Ro Tate tries to change everything. Agi Tate stirs up trouble whenever possible, and Irri Tate always lends him a hand. Whenever new ideas are suggested, Hesi Tate and Vegi Tate pour cold water on them. Imi Tate tries to mimic everyone, Devas Tate loves to be disruptive, and Poten Tate wants to be a big shot. But its Facili Tate, Cogi Tate, and Medi Tate who always save the day and get everyone pulling together.”

We laugh and smile because we know it is true. We are all different but we all need each other. A one-man show doesn’t get very far. But nowhere is this truth brought to a higher and more powerful fulfilment than in the body of Christ. The Scriptures teach that by God’s design all who are in Christ have been made dependent on one another. We may think we can go it on our own, but we can’t. We can’t fulfil our high calling as members of the body of Christ until we begin to realise that we all have a vital part to play. We are family. We need one another. That’s why church is important and church membership at that. It’s God’s design.

Paul speaks of that here in 1 Corinthians 12. He speaks of the church being a body made up of many parts. And each part needs the other. A hand is no good without a foot, an eye no good without an ear, and a nose no good without a mouth. And that is true in church with the gifts we have. The pastor cannot do everything. We need administrators, helpers, teachers, musicians, cooks, cleaners, and so on.

We all have different gifts. What is your gift? And are you using it as part of the body? If not, then the local church is not all that it was intended to be. Get working together.